This work explores the socio-geographic transformation of Žumberak between 1961 and 2001. This included examining the factors of this transformation, the basics of the historical as well as geographical development, demographic processes, types of socio-geographic transformation, spatial differences regarding the direction and intensity of the transformation, and corrective measures and instruments for maintaining a population growth in Žumberak. When it comes to methodology, the most used was the method of analysis-synthesis, and within it, the most dominant were tabular and cartographic analyses of transformation indicators. Cartograms were created using the ArcGis 9.2. computer application. The results of the research show that: 1. due to its peripheral position, modernization processes came to Žumberak very late, and this caused increased emigration during the polarized development of Croatia; 2. emigration quickened the process of aging, caused a drop in birth rate, and eventually led to demographic extinction; 3. in modern times, Žumberak is substantially lagging behind when it comes to Croatia’s socioeconomic development and is affected by the negative processes of the socio-geographic transformation; 4. the most unfavourable processes are characteristic for Central Žumberak, and the least unfavourable are characteristic for the Ozalj Area.